Topic: Pharmaceutical Analysis of Paracetamol,
Ibuprofen, and Aspirin with Emphasis on Elemental
Composition and Active Ingredient Content
By: Vansel Pereira
Class And Div: 11-I
Index
1. Acknowledgement…………………………………
…Pg no. 1
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2. Aim………………………………………………………
………Pg no. 2
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3. Introduction…………………………………………
……Pg no. 2
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4.
Acknowledgement
Introduction
We all take medicines like Panadol, Brufen, or Disprin when
we’re feeling unwell — whether it’s for a headache, fever, or body
pain. But most of us don’t really think about what’s inside those
tablets or how they actually work in our body.
This project is about looking deeper into some of the most
commonly used medicines. I focused on the main ingredients
found in them — Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, and Aspirin — and
tried to understand their chemical structure, what elements
they’re made of, and how that affects the way they help us feel
better.
I also looked at how these medicines are similar and different
when it comes to their structure and what they do in the body. To
help with this, I did some basic research like talking to a
doctor/pharmacist and checking information from trusted sources.
Overall, this project helped me see that there’s a lot of science
behind the pills we take so casually — and that small differences
in their makeup can lead to big differences in how they work.
Aim Of This Project:
The aim of this project is to look into the basic chemical makeup
and how common medicines like Panadol, Brufen, and Disprin
actually work in the body — mainly how they help reduce pain,
fever, or swelling. I also compared their structures and ingredients
to see what makes each one different.
Literature Review:
In this section, I’ve looked into the basic chemical properties and structures of
Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, and Aspirin — the main ingredients in common medicines
like Panadol, Brufen, and Disprin. Each of these drugs contains specific functional
groups that decide how they act in the body. By understanding these chemical
parts, we can better see how they help relieve pain, fever, or inflammation. This
part of the project also shows how their pharmacological importance connects to
their structure and composition.
1. Paracetamol (Panadol):
Chemical Name: Acetaminophen
Formula: C₈H₉NO₂
Functional Groups: Amide (-CONH) and Hydroxyl (-OH)
Use: Analgesic (pain reliever) and antipyretic (fever reducer)
Mechanism: Inhibits prostaglandin synthesis in the brain, reducing pain and
fever.
2. Ibuprofen (Brufen):
Chemical Formula: C₁₃H₁₈O₂
Functional Groups: Carboxylic acid (-COOH), Aromatic ring
Use: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
Mechanism: Blocks COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes, reducing prostaglandins that
cause inflammation and pain.
3. Aspirin (Disprin):
Chemical Name: Acetylsalicylic Acid
Formula: C₉H₈O₄
Functional Groups: Ester (-COOR), Carboxylic acid (-COOH)
Use: Analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and antiplatelet
Mechanism: Irreversibly inhibits COX enzymes, also prevents blood clotting
(used in heart attack prevention).
Methodology and Data Collection
1.Doctor Interview:
I visited a nearby pharmacy and briefly interviewed a pharmacist (Mr. Raza)
who explained:
Panadol is safest for fever and mild pain.
Brufen is stronger but can irritate the stomach if overused.
Disprin (Aspirin) is used for pain and as a blood thinner but not
recommended for children.
2. Medicine Label Observation:
Checked the packaging of:
Panadol: Contains 500 mg Paracetamol
Brufen: Contains 400 mg Ibuprofen
Disprin: Contains 300 mg Aspirin
Noted dosage instructions and warnings such as avoiding Brufen on an
empty stomach.
3. Online Research:
Used Drugs.com, PubChem, and Wikipedia to study chemical structures and
pharmacological effects.
Analysis and Interpretation
We can analyse this using a table:
Drug Brand Active Chemic % Active Key Function
Ingrediesnt al Ingredie Element
Formula nt s
Paraceta Panadol Paracetamol C₈H₉NO₂ 100% C, H, N, Pain relief,
mol tablet O reduces fever
Ibuprofen Brufen Ibuprofen C₁₃H₁₈O₂ 100% C, H, O Pain relief,
tablet anti-
inflammatory
Aspiri Disprin Acetylsalicyli C₉H₈O₄ 100% C, H, O Pain relief,
n c acid tablet blood thinner
All three drugs are mainly made of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and
oxygen (O).
Paracetamol includes nitrogen (N) due to its amide group.
Their mechanisms of action differ, but all reduce pain or
inflammation by affecting chemical messengers like prostaglandins.
Brufen and Aspirin affect the stomach lining, so are taken with care.
Paracetamol is gentler on the digestive system.
A graph representation based on the pain scores in rest, activity
and their mean AUC values on ibuprofen and paracetamol:
Let us get a observation of the figures given above one by one:
Figure 1 – Pain at Rest
Observation:
Combination (Paracetamol + Ibuprofen) gave the best pain relief at
rest.
Ibuprofen worked better than Paracetamol alone, but the combo clearly
showed lower pain scores over time.
Figure 2 – Pain During Activity
Observation:
Again, the combination treatment gave better pain control during
movement or activity.
This suggests the two drugs work synergistically, meaning they are
more effective together than alone.
Figure 3 – Mean AUC
Observation:
Lower AUC means better pain control.
Combo treatment had the lowest AUC (best pain relief), followed by
Ibuprofen, then Paracetamol.
Clearly proves that combined dosing improves overall pain
management.
What Conclusion do we make from the graphs?
Combining 500 mg Paracetamol + 150 mg Ibuprofen provides
significantly better pain relief than either drug alone.
This supports the idea that smart combinations can reduce the dose of
stronger drugs (like Ibuprofen) while still keeping pain well controlled.
Conclusion
This study showed that although Panadol, Brufen, and Disprin
are used for similar symptoms, their chemical structures,
modes of action, and side effects vary. Understanding their
elemental makeup and biological roles helps in making safer
choices when using medicines. It also highlights the importance
of dosage and side-effect awareness.
References / Bibliography:
1. Drugs.com – https://www.drugs.com
2. PubChem (NIH) – https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
3. Wikipedia – Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Aspirin
4. Interview with Mr. Raza, Local Pharmacist, Life Pharmacy
5. Packaging Labels: Panadol, Brufen, Disprin
6. And some help from ChatGPT for using some key terms.
